A Year of Incredible Joy, Unimaginable Loss, and True Belonging – Farewell 2024

This year had it all.

Dec 18, 2024

Julian and Gigi discuss how Papou probably won’t make it off the Naughty List this year.

I will do practically anything to get a smile from Julian and a 🤍 from you. Please drop one if you feel so moved.

As I write this final newsletter of 2024, I reflect on the past twelve months—moments that brought laughter, wonder, and tears.

Belonging to the World

This year reminded me that I don’t belong to just one place—I belong to the world. That feeling has always lived deep within me, but 2024 brought it to the surface in unexpected ways.

A few months ago, I discovered I’d been a dual citizen, German and American since I was born. For 61 years, I had never known this, but now I have the EU passport to prove two countries can claim me. You may remember my earlier post about this discovery—I wrote about it here.

This sense of belonging expanded through travel, too. My husband and I explored new countries: Portugal, Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. Iceland even gets an honorable mention for a layover (twice.) And if standing on a Reykavjik tarmac, buffeted by icy summer winds, counts as “touching the earth,” I’ll take it!

We met amazing people in all these places, which always reminds me that we’re all connected by our humanity. What happens here in the United States affects the whole world and vice versa. I’m very glad when I leave my home and recognize the beauty of other cultures.

Two New Grandbabies

My family brought some of the sweetest moments this year with the arrival of not one but two grandbabies.

My middle daughter started our year beautifully by welcoming Weston, currently an 11-month-old heart-stealer, with a smile that could warm the most frigid January. He joined his older sister Isabelle and fur brother Tucker.

Weston isn’t shy about saying hi to all TPIYS community.

In June, my oldest daughter gave us Julian, a 9-lb plus newborn who keeps growing at a big boy pace. At just six months old, he dazzles us with his giggles and snuggles. (See the photo up top) Julian has a fur brother named Trace.

Grandbabies are like Pringles, it seems—you really can’t stop at just one. Pass the whole can, please!

Trying Something New

This year, I went out on a limb: I started a podcast.

The quality was rough around the edges, but the conversations were meaningful and deep. I spoke to beautiful people, learned from them, and—most importantly—enjoyed every minute. For me, that’s success.

In 2025, I’ll be at it again. I’ve already started a list of inspiring people I want to interview, and I’d love your help. If you know someone whose story needs to be heard, send them my way!

Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.

Rainer Maria Rilke

The Greece Retreat

Hosting my first women’s retreat in Greece was equal parts chaos and magic.

Things didn’t always go as planned, but watching the women lounge by the infinity pool, share laughter and connection at our dinners, and discover the island reminded me why I took the leap. Even with the catawampus moments, the joy was undeniable.

We’re doing another ladies’ retreat in September 2025, and I’d love for you to join us. (Sign up for details and updates here!)

Three Years on Substack

This is my 164th post. When I started this newsletter in January 2022, it took me six months to receive any likes or comments. I remember staring at my screen, wondering if anyone was out there. Was I doing it wrong?

This year, the comment section is alive, and the conversations are on point. I love hearing from you and especially getting to know you. I’ve made friends with readers in the Pacific Northwest, Montana, Arizona, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Illinois, the Canary Islands, England, Australia, and Canada, to name a few.

The icing on the cake is that 18 of you have chosen to support me with a paid subscription. Say what?

I feel joy and disbelief whenever I see a new subscriber, paid or free. It means the world to me. Truly.

Except for the trolls. Yes, they made it to this platform, too. I’m not playing though.

To the trolls: I am married and not interested in you. I will not answer your endless questions, and you will be blocked at the first, “Hi, how are you?”

The Hard Stuff

Of course, not every moment this year was joyful.

There were tears—over things not going as planned on the retreat, the relentless stress of the presidential election and the devastating Democratic loss, and, saddest of all, when my husband and I had to say goodbye to our beloved dog, Polly, on November 19th.

The heaviness lingers. Grief like that hurts. And oh, the anxiety of what’s ahead. We’re about to all find out what happens when a convicted felon and his billionaire friends are trusted with the well-being of 345 million people, not to mention the rest of the world.

God help us.

But we keep moving, don’t we? We’re made for movement—in body, spirit, and life.

Let life happen to you. Believe me: life is in the right, always. Perhaps all the dragons of our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us once beautiful and brave. The purpose of life is to be defeated by greater and greater things. Rainer Maria Rilke

Looking Ahead

Thank you for being here—whether you joined me recently or have been reading from the start. Your presence, comments, and kindness have made this space a joy to share.

As we step into 2025, my hope for you is simple:

May you find joy in the every day, courage to take a few leaps, and comfort in knowing you, too, belong to this wide, wonderful world.

Happy New Year, my friends.

I made a Spotify playlist for the holiday season. It’s not all Christmas, but a mix of different songs for the winter vibe. If you have favorites complimenting the winter season's slower, introspective tempo, please add them to this playlist. It’s open for collaboration and sharing.